Interviews andselection centres

Laura Newman and Sara Boyle

Agenda

• The recruitment process• Preparation • Activity One• The BT Competencies• Activity Two• Interviews and Assessment Centres• Activity Three• Hints and tips• Questions and Answers

The recruitment process

AssessmentCentre

A mix of capability interviews, role play scenarios and paper

based tests.

AssessmentCentre

A mix of capability interviews, role play scenarios and paper

based tests.

Your career starts here

Your career starts here

Interview and Testing

A mix of online psychometric tests and

telephone interviews.

Interview and Testing

A mix of online psychometric tests and

telephone interviews.

CV andApplication

FormSelf-Selection

Tool

Standard online application system.

CV andApplication

FormSelf-Selection

Tool

Standard online application system.

Preparation

Know the organisation

Know yourself

Activity One - Knowing the company

• In pairs:– List 5 products or services that your potential employer provide.– Now describe them – does your partner understand your description?

What do BT provide?

• Technology consumables • Phone book• 21CN• VOIP• Business process consultancy • Information management• Networked IT service provider• Government policy advisor• Software development and deployment• Future technology development• Core and emergency communication

network• Broadcast / On Demand TV• Media and Broadcast Solutions • Sub-sea cables

• Manage historic and cultural land marks• BT Community Connections• BT Education Programme• BT Satellite Services• BT Yahoo internet• Connected Earth Museums• CRM & Contact Centres• Security and Compliance consultancy• Identity Management• Operational Risk Management• Applications Management and Hosting• Carbon Impact assessment – Sustainable

practices.• Network Design• Wholesale access

What employers are looking for throughout the processBT Competencies

Activity Two – can you relate?

• In pairs:– Think of an example of something you’ve

achieved and relate it to the BT values.

Trustworthy- do what you say they will

Helpful - work as part of a team and contribute to the success of others

Inspiring - create a compelling vision and help customers to realise new possibilities

Straightforward - exercise common sense and judgement in pursuit of clear objectives

Heart - passionate and confident about implementing our strategy, mobilising and energising people, acting as role models.

Preparing for the day:Assessment centre activities

Interviews Group exercise Role play

Psychometric testsCase StudyIn-tray

exercises

Business case studyWhat?

The case study will often consist of information about a company, how well it is doing, its competition, what it’s challenges are, its values, it’s finances etc. You will then be asked to answer a series of questions using the content provided.

Why?

To assess your:Analytical skills and written communicationAbility to process lots of information and identify the key detailAbility to be innovativeAbility to cope with time and pressure

Hints & Tips?

Keep an eye on the timeHighlight the important informationMake sure you answer the question askedBe clear and conciseAnswer as much as possible, even if it involves bullet pointingMake sure your handwriting is legible!

Group exerciseWhat?

• Placed in a group with other candidates• Asked to solve a problem / organise an event / recommend a solution• Often required to meet certain objectives• Likely to be advised not to select a leader/chairperson

Why?To assess your:• Ability to communicate with others• Ability to solve a problems in a team• Ability to influence others• Ability to recognise good ideas and arguments• Interpersonal skills

Hints & Tips?• Recognise the contribution of others and invite people into the discussion• If you volunteer to time keep/scribe don’t forget to continue to contribute to the

conversation• Keep focused on the objectives of the task

PresentationWhat?

5 / 10 minute presentation to two or more managers20 – 30 minutes preparation timeCould be on a topic that you have chosen or a business scenarioQ&A by the panel

Why?

To judge whether you are a professional individualAbility to research a topicAbility to convey a topic to an audience with little prior knowledge

Hints & Tips?

Be aware of your body languagePrepare thoroughlyBe prepared for questionsEnsure you talk at a steady paceIf you use slides don’t cram them full of text!

Role playWhat?

• Often involves discussing an issue/challenge with somebody acting as a peer or manager

Why?

To assess your:• Ability to work with others• Ability to deal with resistance/conflict• Interpersonal skills• Ability to think and react quickly

Hints & Tips?

• Concentrate on the key messages you want to get across• Support your suggestions with evidence from the brief• Listen carefully to the other person’s responses • Remain calm – pause to collect your thoughts if you need to

Assessment Centre – Top Tips!

Travel Effort Exercises

Time Prepare Professional

Be yourself

Feedback

Face to Face Interview

Format

Preparation

Appearance

First Impressions

The Interview

Why have you applied to us?

• Demonstrate that you are serious about the organisation

Capability questions

• How have you dealt with a difficult situation• When have you had to take on additional responsibility• When have you had to achieve a difficult task or goal• When have you had to challenge unacceptable behaviour

What do you think you can bring to the role/organisation?

STAR

Situation Task Action Result

ACTION What did you do? Most

importantly, why?

RESULT Did you achieve your

objectives? What was your learning?

SITUATIONSet the scene. Briefly! Don’t

waste word count

TASK What was the task? When

was it? How did it come about?

Activity Three – Interviews, are you prepared?

• In pairs:– 15 minutes each– Answer the questions on the next slide – Interviewee - Remember we are looking for specifics– Interviewee – Remember to answer the question– Interviewer – think about what feedback you can give

afterwards – how clear were the answers, how articulate was your partner

Activity Three – Sample Competency based interviews

Q1: Inspiring is about thinking creatively to change things for the better. Think about a time when you challenged existing thinking. What was your role? What was the setting?

1. Briefly describe the situation.2. How did you identify the opportunity to do things differently?3. What was your approach?4. What factors did you take into account?5. What problems did you encounter?6. What was the outcome?7. What was the most important thing you learned?

Q2: BT puts customers at the heart of everything it does. A customer is anyone we do work for. Think of a time when you were involved with one or more ‘customers’. In particular, think back to a time when you had a difficult situation with a customer.

1. Describe the situation. (Your role, Who were the customers? What was the setting?) 2. What did you want to achieve?3. What actions did you take to address the situation and why?4. What was the outcome?5. What would you do differently if you were in the same situation again?

Feedback

• 5 Minutes– Now just spend a few minutes giving each other some

feedback

• Group Feedback– Are there any concerns?– How did you find the exercise? – What was useful about it?

Interview Hints and Tips

Be pleasant Time Answers

Listen Be clear Tone and rhythm of your voice

Don’t over prepare Pauses Smile!

Any questions?

For more information on the BT Graduate Scheme please visit http://www.btgraduates.com/